A Guide to the Basics of Club Fitting and Construction – GolfWRX

Every week on InstagramI do a question and answer segment for golfers to connect with each other and ask questions about fit, new equipment, specs, equipment comparisons and basically anything golf related.

Having been doing this for almost a year now, I’ve been asked a lot of different questions, but there are also many that come up frequently, which I’ve compiled, along with a few others, from my Q&A the most recents.

Where can you get additional OEM weights for drivers ie; TaylorMade SIM, Callaway Mavrik, Titleist, etc. ?

For home DIYers, most manufacturers offer additional weights through a number of accounts. If you’re close to a manufacturer that focuses on custom building and has their own in-house workshop, they may even have some in stock. But if you’re looking for choice and can’t order directly from a manufacturer, Golfworks.com has a wide selection of parts for new and old OEM equipment, including weights and adapters.

Does grip size help reduce one-way errors?

Formerly, the common belief was that a smaller grip made a club easier to flip and “release”, while a club with a larger grip was difficult to “flip” because the size delayed hand rotation . We now know that this is false.

The best way to choose a grip is to find what suits you and go from there: don’t worry about size, but instead focus on texture and what feels right to you. If you’re curious to see how an extensive test was done to prove this, check out Ping Golf Proving Ground: Effect of Grip on driver flight.

What is the best way to construct a short set?

Oh, I love half sets!

They offer golfers the opportunity to be creative and can bring a lot more imagination into your game if you play the same golf course often. The best way to create one is to determine which clubs are essential in your shot selection and go from there.

For a more detailed description of how to determine exactly which clubs should be in your half set, check out this article I wrote earlier this year: Building the Perfect Half Set

Is it OK to use wedges when building clubs?

The use of wedges is a common practice when constructing clubs. Whether it’s going from .355″ taper to .370″ parallel in irons, or from .335″ to .350″ in woods, when done correctly, it has no effect on performance . Watch the video below to understand how a wedge is installed

What are the best brands for building combo sets?

When it comes to creating your own combo set, each brand has great options, which ultimately is fantastic for the golf consumer. Ping, Mizuno, TaylorMade, Titleist, Srixon, PXG, Callaway and even direct-to-consumer brands like New Level, Sub70 and Ben Hogan design their iron lines around combo set construction.

It’s a trend that started about a decade ago, and to see how this design philosophy has evolved, take a look at this piece from a few weeks ago: The hottest design trend in irons

What do you think of one length clubs?

Single length continues to be a hotly debated topic, so I’ll be very blunt: I believe single length clubs can provide golfers with greater consistency, especially those with higher handicaps or who play infrequently . With this in mind, I continue to believe that, based on delivery dynamics, varying length clubs in shorter irons and wedges will improve scoring.

To better understand my position on the subject, see this: One-length wedges hold off Bryson DeChambeau

How do club weight and swing weight affect my ball flight?

Swing and overall weight can affect golfers differently, but the general rule is that a lighter weight with a higher balance point is easier to swing and “flip” – that’s why XXIO does it in its Prime Series to help golfers at slower speeds. Heavier clubs with lower balance points are more difficult to swing and “stay open” more.

To see a blind test in action on this very topic, check out the great video below from our friends at TXG.